Damian Barrett

[Rd10.1998_11.1#36]

I get that when you commit to writing a themed column every week, you have to resort to basically making stuff up but really... let's look at how his Sliding Doors are going this week:

1. If Showdown isn't played at the MCG on a Friday night some time soon ... then it will be an opportunity lost on so many fronts. It is the main AFL rivalry

Bigger than ANZAC day? You and Hinkley may think so. Go ahead, let's see the crowd


2. If you want to ponder what you once had when it comes to pure, entire-competition captivating rivalry ... then make sure, after you play that one-time great rivalry opponent Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday afternoon, that you tune in to the Showdown that night to see how it is done these days.

Duh. Although to be fair it was only a close game because of Eddie. What a marketing genius!


3. If there's something more to the Steven May situation ... then tell us; otherwise you've set a very high behavioural bar. Not aware of the contractual clause that says a player can't have a couple of quiet ones in his own time.

Goodwin quoted their policy during the week: no alcohol during recovery


4. If we thought lacklustre fixturing on Friday night was a thing of the past ... then round eight's Swans-Bombers SCG game looms as a worry. There are real reasons for the Swans' fall this year, but they are difficult to watch at times.

Hardly an unwatchable game

I'm sure several of his other insightful comments will prove to be baseless garbage too. What a berk

[ronrat]

Ignore him. I do. The only decent piece he has written in years has been the bit has been the bit about Steve May..

[Stevo75]

The weekly sliding doors on the AFL site is nearly as big a joke as him. Probably the biggest flog in the media right now and considering he has some company that is some title!

[Woods Of Ypres]

Sliding Doors is bullshit not even worth reading
So too is 'in the mix' which is pure speculation, garbage.

[inxs88]

It's easy to sling crap at journos. You should listen to the Sounding Board podcast he does with Hutchy. May open your eyes a tad further.

[Rd10.1998_11.1#36]

That's as may be but I think we can agree SD is crap though. Trying too hard because he's committed to saying something insightful/controversial about every team, every round

[inxs88]

[Rd10.1998_11.1#36]

Sliding Doors. Barret's weekly column on the AFL site

I haven't seen it but the movie is probably also crap

[David]

It is! Takes a great idea (that mundane incidents such as missing a train radically change the direction of your life, and that a butterfly flapping its wings in New Mexico leads to a hurricane in China, etc.) and turns it into a generic rom-com. Also, Barrett routinely seems to miss the point of that premise and just turns it into a generic "if/then" exercise. See here for an academic critique of his efforts:

https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/this-is-how-sliding-doors-works-barrett.1200980/

[donuts]

I have to agree with inxs88 here. I listen to The Sounding Board podcast every week and have for a few years. My views on him have changed a lot.

Does he get it right all the time? No, but that's life.

I do remember early in trade week last year he went with the Beams back to Collingwood story and was lambasted by many in the media and by the Lions themselves...but he continually stuck to his story.
Barrett also went hard on Hanneburry, not only being recruited from Sydney but eyebrows raised about him in the leadership group. Barrett copped it over that, only for Hanneburry to 'step down' from the group a few months into his tenure.

There are many worse than Barrett in my opinion.

[Damien]

How anyone thinks that the showdown should be played at the G is beyond me. He’s a fool.

[MagpiesTheGreat]

Out of his depth. Ignore anything from him.

[piedys]

[Rd10.1998_11.1#36]

[Jezza]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/sports-life/western-bulldogs-coach-luke-beveridge-roasts-black-soul-journalist-over-stars-retirement/news-story/bbd48e2df8a8d9d3b84b3ef7344d6992